Valley hazmat team cut

Rejecting pleas that the loss of a hazmat squad imperils the San Fernando Valley, the Los Angeles City Council on Friday refused to provide the estimated $50,000 needed to keep full staffing of the unit. Daily News.

But fire officials insisted the public will not be in danger when the hazardous materials unit at Fire Station 87 in Granada Hills - the only one in the Valley - is taken out of service at the end of the month.

"If I thought there would be any danger to the public, I would have raised an alarm," Fire Chief Millage Peaks said. "Would I like to keep these at full strength? Of course. But we have a budget we have to deal with."